After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
Saudi-Qatar divide means reset for GCC Saudi Arabia and Qatar have different ideas about what constitutes internal and external threats to the Gulf region, making their partnership within the Gulf Cooperation Council difficult. Saudi Arabia
Dahlan-Hamas reconciliation to open doors in Egypt Hamas leaders met with former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan in Abu Dhabi to create a framework to deliver financial aid to the Gaza people, and so doing chipped a small crack in the wall between Egypt and Hamas. Palestine
Right-wing Knesset members lash out at Arabs for ratings Housing Minister Uri Ariel's remarks against Arab Knesset members aim first and foremost to attract headlines, says Arab Knesset member Mohammad Barakeh in an interview with Al-Monitor, but they sometimes serve Arab Knesset members as well. Israel
GCC rift another blow to Erdogan’s Mideast policies Turkey is increasingly isolated in the region, more so as Qatar is on the outs with other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Saudi Arabia
In latest tape, Erdogan calls judiciary Leaked tapes suggest Recep Tayyip Erdogan interfered directly in the judiciary to curb press freedom. Turkey
Avoiding the 'disaster scenario' in Lebanon Lebanon at a crossroad: in the best-case scenario Lebanon would see a new president who forms a new government, while in a worst-case scenario no president is elected and the government does not enjoy parliament's confidence. Lebanon
Israel's 'campaign between the wars' with Iran The latest capture of a vessel carrying weapons en route to the Gaza Strip reveals Israel's ongoing battle against Iranian attempts to gain a military foothold in the region — while nuclear negotiations follow their course. Palestine
Jordan Valley essential for a viable Palestinian state US Secretary of State John Kerry should work to ensure that full sovereignty of the Jordan Valley is given to the Palestinians to ensure a future state is economically viable. Palestine
Egypt seeks Saudi help on Ethiopia water dispute Egypt has turned to Saudi Arabia to help pressure Ethiopia into compromising on the Renaissance Dam, which Cairo fears will cut off vital water supplies from the Nile River. Saudi Arabia
Saudi-Qatar tensions divide GCC The announcement by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates that they are withdrawing their ambassadors to Qatar is a further sign of the deterioration in Saudi-Qatar ties and the fragmentation of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Saudi Arabia
An Israeli leftist finds glimmer of hope Can this common declaration, written by former Knesset member Einat Wilf and professor Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi, unite Israelis and Palestinians around the divisive issue of Israel as a Jewish state and Palestine as the Palestinian people's homeland? Palestine
New Dostour Party leader shares her views on future of Egyptian politics Following her election as head of Egypt’s Dostour Party, Hala Shukrallah sits down with Al-Monitor to talk about political life in Egypt and the role of women in making social change. Egypt
